Formula One took the scream out of racing this season when the brass opted for a new 1.6-liter, 6-cylinder, hybrid-style engine that sounds more like something that would propel a golf cart.

During the Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia, a couple weeks ago, a journalist mate likened the new noise to that coming from “a sick blowfly.”

The departure from the ear-piercing 2.4-liter, 8-cylinder, normally aspirated engines used in F1 in recent years to the 2014 version is monumental in terms of sound.

Yes, the new power plants are more environmentally friendly, but motor racing is best served loud and lusty, in my opinion. Chuck the earplugs.

Now, NASCAR is considering “significant” engine changes down the road, NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said last week, in keeping with the brand-strong and identifiable Gen-6 car and the associated aerodynamic and body changes introduced in 2013.

Current Sprint Cup cars are powered by a 5.86-liter Pushrod V8 — ancient in terms of F1 technology — that produces around 865 horsepower.

NASCAR might be looking to reduce horsepower in cooperation with Ford, Chevrolet and Toyota in a less powerful but more modern and cleaner version of today’s engine.

That’s fine. Clean is good. Environment is paramount. The aero and body refinements have worked.

I’m just hoping, selfishly, that NASCAR doesn’t take the growl out of Sprint Cup cars — the hostile, angry, thunderous sound that raises the hairs on the back of your neck when the drivers stomp on the gas as they take the green flag at Daytona, Talladega, Michigan and Bristol.

It’s unique to American stock car racing and needs to be protected.

If you are lucky enough to be at Michigan International Speedway this summer for the Cup race, you’ll know what I mean.